Friday, April 13, 2012

Boys week away,suggestions welcome

Four married men with leave passes looking for suggestions for beach resort in August.We have decided as we quickly approach 50 time for a get together to remember past times.Have done little reseach at this stage so totally open to suggestions as place and hotel.Looking for a resort with great beach and adventure activities eg fishing,diving.Travelling from Melb and have about one week .Thanks





Boys week away,suggestions welcome


dit, For the most bang for your buck I would recommend HCMC and then on to Vung Tau or Mui Ne. Both beach resorts, VT being abit closer with alittle more to do.

Rent room

My daughter and her friends are going to Da Nang for training at a hospital. They expect to be there for about a month. Does anyone know of rooms available for rental? How much?



3-4 weeks from mid june this year - Where to go??

Hi,



2 queries really, have 5 weeks total and in a quandry!





1)Flying into HCMC at this stage on 19th June. have about 3-4 weeks of backpacking to do. Any recommendations?





Appreciate weather not at best then so need to consider that potentially. Was thinking of going no further North than Hue / Hoi An?





2)Want to travel through Cambodia back to Bangkok. Need to be back there for 24th July.





How best to get through by land/sea and should I spend more or less time in cambodia?



Thanks!!



Chris



Shopping for Chess Set in Vietnam/Negotiating

I like to collect chess sets from the countries I visit with pieces representative of that country. I am in Ho Chi Minh City now and saw some at several markets and stores. The starting prices were 350,000-550,000 dong. Before I negotiate with a seller, I%26#39;d like to know if anyone had advice on where I should start negotiating (should I start at a certain percentage of the offer price or just totally lowball it) and if anyone knows about how much such an item should cost, though I know it%26#39;s hard without seeing the item. Also, I will be in Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, and Halong Bay. Will these places have this item and are the prices there better than in Ho Chi Minh City? I appreciate any advice you can give me.

  • natural hair
  • Chau Doc - Phnom Penh By Hang Chau Speed Boat 24 USD / 1 Pax

    Dear all TA guests ,





    I have just called the Hang Chau speed boat company in Chau Doc to update the information for those who are planning to visit Cambodia from Chau Doc





    From August 01 2008, It costs 24 USD for one way ticket Chau Doc- PP. It leaves at 08:00 AM, arrives at 01:00 PM





    It costs 22 USD for Cambodia Visa





    From PP, there are 2 options for you :





    + Option # 1 : You will stay overnight in PP and then next morning , you will take speed boat from PP to Siem Riep. It leaves at 08:00 AM, arrive at 02:00 PM. It costs 25 USD for one way ticket







    + Option # 2 : When you arrive PP, you will hire a taxi to travel 330 kms to arrive Siem Riep or you can arrange private car for pick up from PP and transfer to Siem Riep





    Have a great journey along Mekong Rivers !





    Jason





    Chau Doc - Phnom Penh By Hang Chau Speed Boat 24 USD / 1 Pax


    We did the speed from PP to CHAU DOC not quite what we expected. A small 16 seat boat with a cover over the top That leaked when it rained. Be prepared to scramble up the river bank at one of the border crossings.



    It was an experience that went into the book of life.



    Chau Doc - Phnom Penh By Hang Chau Speed Boat 24 USD / 1 Pax


    Dear KEVLOVESJULES,





    Thank you for your sharing the information





    Could you please inform me and other guests which express boat company you took from PP to Chau Doc ? Was It the Hang Chau express ?





    Thanks





    Jason




    Sorry I dont know what company it was. It was arranged by an agent and we did have an escort on the boat which did make it a little easier when we reached Chau Doc as he was able to put us on our next mode of transport with out any hassle. Not many people speak English in this area.




    Hi Jason,



    Thank you very much for your efforts to share updated info with fellow travellers. This was the information I was desparately looking for and now found. Is that 8 o%26#39;clock departure the only one a day?



    Would you be able to recommend a nice place (budget/midrange) to stay in Chau Doc and Phnom Penh?





    Thank you again.




    Just found a photo it was Hang Chau Tourist




    Dear Ramblergirl





    Here are some hotels in Chau Doc. Sorry I have not known any hotels in PP / Siem Riep







    THUAN LOI HOTEL PRICE :10 USD- 15 USD





    Thuan Loi hotel is located in the centre of the town, 20m from Con Tien ferry, 200m from Chau doc market and 6km from Sam mountain. It is a 10 minute walk to Mekong riverside park.







    Add: 18 Tran Hung Dao road, Chau Doc town, An Giang province, Vietnam





    Tel: (84-76) 866134









    BEN DA NUI SAM RESORT Price: 20 USD -25 USD





    Address: National Road 91, Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc Town, An Giang Province, Vietnam





    Telephone: (84-76) 861 745 (3 lines)





    Fax: (84-76) 861 530





    Ben Da Nui Sam is a series of postcards in motion. Step back in time to see boys herding their ducks, men lounging on water buffalo and women in conical hats bent double in rice fields. A diverse and varied culture, Ben Da Nui Sam has something for everyone. From Chua Ong, Chua Ba in Chau Doc to the water-park in VinhTe Canal, from the Mekong Delta to the the top of Sam Mountain, Ben Da Nui Sam Resort has sights, history and people that will shock, amaze and amuse you. Visit us at the Ben Da Nui Sam and and be amazed at all that can happen on water and mountain.









    CHAU PHO HOTEL Prices : 25 USD- 40 USD





    Address: Trung Nu Vuong Str, Chau Doc, An Giang, Viet Nam





    Telephone: (84-76) 564139





    Fax: (84-76) 564159





    Chau Pho Hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels in Chau Doc. Seeing from the high floors, overall picture of Chau Doc Town appears tranquilly. It just takes the tourist about 15 minutes to drive from Chau Pho to the famous place of pilgrimage in Vietnam - Lady Chua Xu Temple or to the other cultural and historical monuments such as Sam Mountain, Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, Tay An Pagoda









    Enjoy your stay at my hometown !!!





    Jason




    Dear Jason,



    Thank you soooooo much for your hotel recommendations. When we go there I%26#39;ll say hello from you.



    One more question if you dont mind. I have read about the fairly unknown bird sanctuary along the River. Do you have any advice how to get there, where to book a boat or tour etc.?



    Have a good day. Saija






    Dear Saija,





    If you want to make your dream come true, you will hire car, or motorbike, taxi from Can Tho city to visit Bang Lang Stork Garden in Thot Not.





    Or on the way from Can Tho to Chau Doc, you will ask your car driver/ tour guide to stop at the coffee shop near Bang Lang bridge to visit the stork garden





    The best time to arrive there around 4 PM- 5 PM, you will observe the sunset and hundreds of storks flying back to the garden. There are hudreds of black %26amp; white storks there.





    You will leave Can Tho around 03 PM, you will pass Thot Not town ( my grandparents%26#39;s hometown) to arrive Bang Lang bridge where you pass the brige, turn on the left. Following small pretty country path to arrive the Stork Sanctuary where you will pay ticket to enter the garden. It costs about more or less than 5.000 VND for one ticket. You can reach there by honda om ( motorbike taxi ) , on foot or by boat from the bridge





    If you would like to taste the stork meat, you are welcome there. The stork garden owner will cook for you with different styles . Of cousre you will pay for your bill





    For more information about the Bang Lang stork garden, please click here





    vietnampictorial.com/Internet/…Default.aspx





    Jason




    Dear Jason,



    Thank you again for your valuable info. I think, from what you have told us, that the Mekong River - part of our one month Vietnam tour will be one of its highlights. Your expertise and passion is appreciated. Saija




    Hi Jason!





    I%26#39;m looking for a way to do the trip PP-Ho Chi Minh City. I would like to do PP-Chau Doc by boat (one that enables to have a nice view of the scenery), and then take a bus or car to Ho Chi Minh City.





    But the thing is that I have to leave PP and arrive at Ho Chi Minh the same day. Do you think this is feasible? Any idea of costs (we are 3 budget travellers)?





    Thanks!!


  • elizabeth arden
  • driver/guide in vietnam

    can anyone recommend a good english-speaking driver/guide in vietnam? i do not want to go on an organized tour, but i would like to arrange a driver beforehand. we are a family with two teenage daughters.





    driver/guide in vietnam


    A driver normally can not speak English well, so better hire a local guide not guide+driver.



    driver/guide in vietnam


    Viet Nam%26#39;s a pretty big country, did you have anywhere specific in mind?

    Fabulous hotel!

    We stayed in Hanoi Gecko hotel for a week during my holiday in Vietnam.That%26#39;s great time that I have never stayed any hotels in Vietnam.



    When I walked along a small lane that near a big market, I didn%26#39;t think i can find a new hotel there.It%26#39;s a small lane but very good location because near the famous Hoankiem lake and many shops around.Very convernient for us to go for a walk and eating as well. Especially,the staffs here extremely friendly and helpful.They are very beautiful girls with good smiles.They alway welcome us when we come back hotel like at home. They recommended many good places to go and things to do in Vietnam as well as in the old quarter of Hanoi.We really happy with that! Many thanks for them, Hanoi Gecko hotel.



    Fabulous hotel!


    And you joined TripAdvisor just to tell us this. How sweet.



    For someone from California your English language skills are.....idiosyncratic, as is the spelling of your name.